Quiz: Howstuffworks

The Ultimate Octopus Quiz

Staff

Image: refer to hsw

About This Quiz

Octopuses are mysterious sea-creatures that always seem to intrigue young children. Octopuses are smarter and more talented than you may think. They even have a unique defense mechanism to protect them against predators. Take this quiz and learn about the mysteries of the octopus.

A male pillow octopus is ______ a female pillow octopus.

lighter than

heavier than

the same weight as

A female pillow octopus is 40,000 times heavier than a male pillow octopus.

How do pillow octopuses mate?

The male octopus has sperm in his arm.

They mate with typical sex organs.

The male octopus has sperm in his head.

The male octopus has sperm in one of his arms, which he actually tears off and gives to a female octopus. Talk about a romantic gift!

What does an octopus feel like?

a snake

the inside of your cheek

sand paper

An octopus feels like the inside of your cheek. An octopus is actually not slimy.

Octopuses use their arms for:

moving around

tasting

both of the above

Octopuses arms are very versatile. They use their arms for moving around, feeling and tasting.

Octopuses are related to:

clams

snails

both of the above

Octopuses belong to the phylum mollusca. Clams, snails and slugs are their closest relatives.

Why are octopuses referred to as cephalopods?

because they have many long arms

because their arms protrude out of their head

both of the above

Cephalopod means “head-footed”. Therefore, octopuses are given the name cephalopod because their arms protrude directly from their head.

Octopuses have:

only arms

arms and tentacles

arms and antennas

Many people make the mistake by saying octopuses have tentacles. In reality, octopuses only have arms, which they use to do just about everything.

What is found inside an octopus's mantle?

hearts

digestive system

both of the above

The mantle is a muscle-like structure where all of the octopus's organs are found, including the heart, digestive system and reproductive glands.

How do octopuses protect themselves from predators?

camouflage

a hard protective shell

poisonous arms

Chameleons can learn a thing or two from octopuses. Octopuses have sophisticated camouflage abilities.

What color is octopus blood?

red

green

blue

Octopuses have blue blood, because a copper-containing protein binds to oxygen in their blood.

How many hearts does an octopus have?

two

three

four

An octopus's blood does a bad job of circulating oxygen. Therefore, octopuses need three hearts to ensure good oxygen circulation.

Chromatophores allow an octopus to:

reproduce

regenerate arms

change color

Chromatophores are pigmented cells that are found all over an octopus's body. These cells contain three colors and allow the octopus to blend in with its surroundings.

How quickly can an octopus change color?

less than a second

less than a minute

less than a hour

The color-changing quality of an octopus is controlled by the nervous system. This means an octopus can change color in less than a second.

What are iridophores?

reflective cells

color cells

receptor cells

The octopus also has numerous iridophores, which are reflective cells, all over its body. These reflective cells help accentuate the camouflage effect.

An octopus's eyesight is:

non-existent

mediocre

very good

The anatomy of an octopus's eyes is similar to the human eye. Octopuses can easily see their prey and predators.

An octopus's brain is:

very small

highly evolved

both of the above

An octopus may have a small brain, but it has a rather complex nervous system.

An octopus's arms are mainly composed of:

muscle

fatty tissue

nerves

Octopuses are very strong. Their arms are composed primarily of muscle, giving them the ability to tear through plexiglass.

Octopuses are:

nomadic

nocturnal

both of the above

Octopuses hunt for their food only at night and relocate their home every few weeks.

What is the activity level of a typical octopus?

very lazy

somewhat active

hyperactive

Octopuses are known for being lazy, spending most of their time immobile in their den.

A typical octopus lives for:

a few years

many years

a few decades

Octopuses generally have a very short lifespan, about three to five years.

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